Sustainable Substitutes for OneNote

A Note-Taking app by Microsoft without end-to-end encryption.

Reasons to avoid OneNote

Avoid OneNote, because it comes with privacy concerns as Microsoft falsely claims to be GDPR compliant. OneNote comes with unnecessary AI integration, making it waste energy.

Microsoft deploys tax avoidance schemes, supports the Trump regime and is known for greenwashing their data centres.

Go with ethical Note-Taking alternatives instead.

Ethical and Sustainable OneNote Alternatives

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  • Feasibility: How easily can the average user switch to this substitute? Higher feasibility results in a higher ranking.
  • Editor's Rating: How sustainable is the substitute? The more sustainability attributes it fulfils, the higher it is ranked.

The 8 main issues with OneNote

Privacy Concerns - User data is likely to be stored and used against users' best interest.

OneNote does not have end-to-end encryption, forcing users to trust Microsoft not use the contents and metadata of their notes for data-mining, ad-targeting and AI-training.Source: Wikipedia: Criticism of Microsoft > Privacy Issues

No Carbon Neutrality Goals - No goals for carbon neutrality is a bad sign as it shows lack of commitment to holding crucial thresholds for global climate warming.

Microsoft has delayed its carbon neutrality targets and relies heavily on carbon offsets rather than direct emissions reductions, undermining its sustainability claims. Source: Computerworld: Can Microsoft build massive AI data centers and meet climate goals without “greenwashing”?CarbonCredits: Microsoft Buys 3.5 Million Carbon Credits to Offset AI’s Soaring Emissions

Exploitative Labour Practices - Poor working conditions and low wages for workers involved in production or services.

Microsoft has faced criticism for poor working conditions and inadequate wages in its supply chain, including data center operations and hardware production. Source: Wikipedia: Criticism of Microsoft

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Microsoft claims to enable GDPR compliancy with its EU located servers, but the US CLOUD act stands in direct conflict to these claims.Heise: Microsoft's sovereignty debacle: Between "flowery advertising" and "no panic" (2025)

AI Bloat - Service has unnecessary or harmful AI features.

Copilot is pushed into almost all Microsoft products, including OneNote.Source: ZDNET: Microsoft 365 Copilot AI tool headed to OneNote. Here's what it can do for you (2023)

Tax Avoidance - Aggressive strategies are being deployed to avoid paying taxes.

Microsoft is known for using aggressive tax avoidance schemes and has been fined for it. Source: The Guardian: This article is more than 11 years old US tech giants launch fierce fightback against global tax avoidance crackdown (2015)

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Microsoft is financing Donald Trumps plans to create a new ballroom in the white house, hoping to benefit from upcoming laws. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella donated $1 Million to Trumps inauguration fund.Sources: OpenSecrets: Trump ballroom donors poised to benefit from AI plan they helped shape (2026)The Verge: Tech’s shift to Trump: all the companies and execs kissing the ring (2025)

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

Microsoft is one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation and locking users into proprietary, cloud-dependent ecosystems. Source: heise online: Germany falls into the data trap in the Microsoft cloud

Suggestions and Feedback

If you have suggestions for more alternatives or general feedback, please contact me via email or create an issue over on Codeberg. Suggest Substitute on Codeberg Write an Email